Ors to james irvine



(N'o Model.)

-L.BK0HNLB&N.BfHAMILToN. VDROP LIFT ST-EP 'POR MLL MACHINERY.

Patented May l, 1883.

,,,,, unl-l Y c l r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE B. KOHNLE AND WILLIAM B. HAMILTON, OF LIMA, OHIO, ASSIGN- ORS TO JAMES IRVINE, OF SAME PLACE.

A DROP-LIFT STEP'FOR MILL MACHINERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,603, dated May 1, 1883.

Application filed March 1, 18H3. (No model.)

To all whom 'it may concern Be itknown thatwe, LAWRENCE B. KonNL and YWILLIAM B. HAMILTON, both citizens "of theUnited States, residing at the city of Lima,

in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have jointly invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drop Lift Steps for MillMa erence marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to drop -lift steps for mill machinery.

Our invention relates to that class of droplift steps which are applied to upright shafts having gear-wheels thereon, for the purpose of throwing said gear wheels into engagement with others ou the ends of horizontal shafts by elevating the shaft by means of the step.f It

is mainly1 used to engage the drivin g-gear with that ou shafts in reel-chests, purifiers, &c. In the present state of the art the engaging gear is bevel, although other kinds might be used.

Our invention pertains only to the step which forms' the end bearing and support for the npright gear-bearing shaft.

The objectof our invention is to produce, a :drop-lift step whichis simple inconstructiou,

which cannot getout of order, is easily oper- A 'ated,vand which is adapted to all kinds of up- -to be elevated; also which is provided with an right gear bearing shafts which are required fanti frictional and reversible bearing for the shaft. It consists of a step in two sections, one of which slides into the other, the inner section provided with a socket or oil-pot, in the bottomof which is a-reversible anti-frictional button forming the end bearing for the shaft, whichA is elevated by a direct lift. The con struction` of the step is such as to allow of its being operated in any position where placed,

thereby dispensing with the necessityof the" double cost of a right and left step, such as are ordinarily in use. Unlike this latter form of construction, which operate to elevate the shaft" `against the lower end of said male section directly in the axial line ol' the shaft. The'support is also central with this line, thereby preventing thatliability to wear on one side more than another which is often found in steps hav` ing peripheral bearings.

Figure 1 is atop view ofA our improved droplift step. Fig.2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through line l 2, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a cross section through the base, and a view of the lower end ot' the male section shown inserted therein. Fig. 5 is a top view of the cam which operates against the lower end of the male section to elevate the shaft. Fig.6 is a view ot' the cam shattor pin. The step consists of the two sections A and B. The former, being the male section, slides into the latter, which formsthe xedbase ofthe step. `As will be seen in Fig. et, both are cylindrical in their cross-section. The male section A is cast with a cavity which forms the cup or socket for the end of the upright shaft a, and

is usually called the oil-pot. Central in the bottom ot' this cavity is a raised boss, b, and on this is a lens-shaped button, c. Itis oblong in shape and convex ou both sides, to make it reversible, so that when worn on one side it may be turned over, and also to malte it as nearly anti-frictional as possible. Its ends extend nearly to the walls of the cavity, .and are 'held down by the bush-ring (Lwhichiits down snugly into the socket c', and is secured by a split pin, e, which enters oppositely-registerin g groovesin the ring and in the wall of thesocket. The pin c has a flanged head, like a rail-spike, to allow it to be withdrawn when necessary. i

By reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that there is ample room `around the -button and lower end ot' the shaft to allow the latter to run, for some time without its gumming or requiring renewal of the oil-supply. Oil-holles' i (seen in the plan view, Fig. l) are provided for this purpose. These lead down from the top ofthe oil-pot, ou either side, into the cavity or reservoir c at the bottom ot the socket a'. As the edges of the button `on its longest sides do lnot extend out to the ring d, the passage of the oil tothe reservoir c' is not obstructed, and the oil, when even as low as the IOO top ofthe button, is drawn in under the end of the shaft as it rotates,keepingA it thoroughly lubricated. On one side of the male section or oil-pot A, nearits lower end, is seen a short rib or feather, b', extending therefrom, which engages with a vertical groove, df, in the inner wall of the base on one side, (at right angles with the shaftf of the cam c.) The object of this rib and groove is to prevent any shifting of the male section axially when lifted, as well as to avoid all possibility of the gear being jarred out of engagement. rIhelower end ot' section A is formed not only for the operative movement of the cam c,but also to allow it to rest upon the base when let down, and thereby relieve the cam from the superincumbent weight and allow it to be brought more readily into operation. The incline t" on the end of A, when the latter is atits lowest point, rests upon the incline t, which projects inward from the inner wall of B, as seen on the right in Fig. 3. The dotted lines in this figure show the cam c before being operated to elevate it.

The cam is pear-shaped in crosssection, beingl extended upon one sidea little more than onehalf its diameter to give it sufficient throw to elevate the male section A the desired height necessary to engage the gear. The extended side of the cam c has a square plane surface, which, when the cam is turned upward to the position seen in Fig. 3, allows the horizontalV plane surface d on the lower end of A to rest' thereon, giving it a tirm seat and locking the cam in position. axial line of the shaft a will cut the cam-shaft fthrongh the center. A square recess, 71 allows the insertion ot' the cam into its position in the base Bv before the latter is bolted down to its place, andthe shaftf is inserted through a diametric hole in the base and through the interposed cam. To retain the shaft inits position in the cam and prevent thelatter from turning thereon, as well vas to provide for the partial revolution of the shaft in its bearings in the walls of the base, it is'planed off longi-4 tudinally from its inserted end to a point .reaching-to within a short distance of the head',

so as to form an angle extending throughoutV The hole in the .cam is made of the same (reversed) form. l on the end g is formed a square head to the thatportion of its length.

cam-shaft to provide for its being operated by a common nut-wrench lever.

By 4reference to the view Fig. 3 the construction of the operative parts of our improved' the cam, the angle n of which, being fartherl lfrom the center of the pivotal shaftf, necessa- It will be noticed that the so that it is in no degree liable to be displaced,

nor is it subject to wear. In case of uneven wear the bush-ring maybe reversed.

The operation of the device is so simple as to be readily understood by reference to the drawings, which sufficiently illustrate the movement ot' the operative parts. i

We claim asour invention- 1. In a drop-lift step, a cam located beneath the movable section, upon a shaft' pivoted in the walls of the base and adapted'to operate said section, to lift it by a partial rotation of said. cam, substantially as set forth.` the position of section A when down, and of 2. In a drop-lift step, a cam for operating the same, pivoted under the movable section, and having one side of its face formed into a seat for the end of-said movable section to rest upon when elevated, said cam being xed upon a shaft or pin pivoted at right angles to the vertical walls of the step, and adapted to elevate the gear-bearin g shaft by a partial yrotation of the same, and to retain said gear-bearing shaft in position, when elevated, by the pressure of the movable section of the step upon said camseat,` substantially as shown' and specified.

3. A cam for operating the .movable section of a drop-lift step, having a fiat seat upon one side of its face, with an angle projecting beyond the circle of rotation of said seat, whereby said movable section (with its gear-bearing shaft) is elevated above it when the cam is operated, andallowed to fall back and become lockedV in position, as hercinbefbre-speci- 4. In a drop-lift step having a fixed Iand a -movable section, a rib upon one section enanti-frietional reversible button havin g both its sides convexed,- and adapted to operate as a seat for the gear-bearin g shaft, as set forth.

` 7. A button for drop-lift steps,uetoblong form, its ends extending under the bush-ring andsupporting the same, `and havingits two sides made convex, whereby it is made reversible, as set forth. l

8. Inafdrop-lift step having its movable section cast or bored with a cavity or socket for IOS IIS

the end of the gear-bearing shaft, and having bush-ring grooved on one side to form a hole,`

with an opposite groove in the inner wall of its bowl or socket, the combination therewith of a split pin having a iianged head, whereby said ring may be removed by the withdrawal of said pin, as set forth.

11.- In a drop-lift step having a fixed and a movable section telescoped together, and operated by a vertical movement, as set forth, the combination, with said sections, ot' a rib upon one section engaging with a groove in the other, as and for the purpose specified.

' 12. In combination with the movable section and the fixed base, the operative cam and the pivoted shaft, the lat-ter extending diametrically through the base, across the axial line ot the gear-bearing shaft supporting said cam, L

upon the middle thereof', and adapted to operate substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereoflwe affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.A

LAWRENCE B. KOHNLE. WILLIAM B. HAMILTON.

Witnesses:

THOMAS R. SHAW, JOHN T. ScHooNovER. 

